SHILLONG, SEPT 2: The All Regional Parties Alliance (ARPA) meeting on Tuesday fail to take any decision on the demand of the United Democratic Party (UD) to remove the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) chief executive member (CEM) Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit even as it resolved to stay united.
The ARPA was attended by all the seventeen MDCs from the Hill State People Democratic Party (HSPDP), Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and United Democratic Party (UDP).
Before the meeting started, thousands of local traders demonstrated inside the premises of the KHADC to protest against UDP demand of removing Basaiawmoit as CEM.
The local traders waited anxiously outside till the meeting was over.
“All the members of the ARPA have decided to resolve all the differences. We have all decided to remain united till the end of the term,” Basaiawmoit told reporters after the meeting.
Basaiawmoit, however, admitted that as a leader he is not perfect and there might be omission and commission from his side. “But in the near future I would try my best to be accommodative as far as possible with the views and suggestions of the fellow MDCs,” he assured.
On the demand of the UDP for his removal as ARPA leader, Basaiawmoit said the UDP will resolve the issue with the leaders of the HSPDP.
“We respect this decision of the UDP and will allow our friends to carry the message to their leaders on the outcome in the meeting of the ARPA,” Basaiawmoit said adding “Now it is up to the UDP and its MDCs and we urged them to take a call on this.”
Basaiawmoit, however, inform that his party, the HSPDP, and the KHNAM have decided to oppose the demand for the change of leadership. ‘Both the parties have reposed their faith on the present leadership,” he said.
Refusing to make any commitment on the issue of change of leadership, UDP leader in the KHADC Teinwell Dkhar said, “The party MDCs decided to leave the matter to the wisdom of the party leadership.” He said, “I am sure that the party leadership would soon convene the meeting of the leaders of both KHNAM and HSPDP to take a final call on their demand for the change of leadership in the council.”
Dkhar, who is also deputy CEM, said that they are satisfied with the assurance made during the meeting. He said, “The MDCs would soon submit a positive report to the party high command on the outcome of the meeting.”
Meanwhile, KHNAM parliamentary party leader Latiplang Kharkongor said that the party is firm to oppose the demand for the change of leadership. “We have nothing to question against the leadership of Basaiawmoit,” he added.
Soon after the meeting ended, Basaiawmoit came out of his office chamber and addressed the gathering consisting of the traders and party members amid loud cheers.- By Our Reporter
The UDP should try to maintain calm
on the issue of changing leadership in the KHADC for the welfare of the people. If re-election has to be conducted I fear the party UDP will need oxygen to survive. The anger of the people had already emerged. The UDP had faced the indignance of the people in the last Assembly election by giving ticket to a non- tribal. The party should not play against the wish of the people. Be alert with the functioning style of the working president of the party UDP.